In an uncharacteristically solemn start to an IPL fixture, the match between SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI) on Wednesday night opened not with fireworks or cheerleaders, but with silence and mourning. This was in respect to the victims of the brutal terror attack that occurred in Pahalgam, Kashmir, a day earlier, which claimed the lives of at least 26 civilians and injured many others.
Both teams’ players, along with match officials, wore black armbands and observed a minute’s silence before the national anthem was played at Hyderabad’s packed stadium. Usual festive elements like music between deliveries and celebratory pyrotechnics were suspended as a sign of solidarity. The large screen at the ground displayed a powerful message: “Let’s all stand for peace and humanity.”
During the toss, both team captains, Hardik Pandya for MI and Pat Cummins for SRH, expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the families of those affected. “It’s a heartbreaking incident. My team and I condemn this cowardly attack,” Pandya stated. Cummins echoed similar sentiments.
Commentators also paid tribute live, explaining the black armbands and the mood of the occasion. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released an official statement condemning the “ghastly and cowardly” act and expressed solidarity with the grieving families.
The terror attack, claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a faction of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba group, has drawn international condemnation. The incident has further strained Indo-Pak sporting relations, with India continuing to refuse bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
